This weekend, we were in Miami for the Miami International Boat Show, the largest marine show in North America, with nearly 2,000 businesses and more than 1,000 boats. Mike, who works for Teakdecking Systems, attends every year, but this time, I joined him, and we managed to fit in a little birding.
Miami Beach and its surrounding areas are famous for their parrot and parakeet populations. While many believe these birds are escapes from Hurricane Andrew, research suggests most are from the exotic bird trade. They are beautiful to see, even if many aren’t “countable” on a formal bird list. According to eBird, there are 24 species of parrot and parakeet that are regularly seen in Miami-Dade County. We spotted three on this trip: Monk Parakeets and Mitred Parakeets off 42nd Street, and a Blue-and-yellow Macaw that flew right over my head on the South Beach boardwalk.
If you’re looking for parrot sightings, eBird can help you find recent reports, but two reliable locations are Matheson Park and the neighborhoods around Kendall Hospital. Another great hotspot is the neighborhood near Brewer Park, which is known for Mitred and Red-masked Parakeets and Chestnut-fronted Macaws. The best strategy is to simply listen and follow the squawks near sunset.
We made sure to get up early and walk the beach before the show each morning. This gave us the chance to spot a few shorebirds, including Sanderlings, Royal Terns, and Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
One thing we’ve learned about Miami is that you never know what you’ll see—you might even find a voodoo doll under a Banyan tree!
Next stop: Local birding with the St. Petersburg Audubon Society
Trip : Total Species: 27 Year Birds: 8 Life Birds: 0
2015 : Year Birds: 110 Life Birds: 4
Here’s the list: 2015 Bird List
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